From the Innovation in Design Credit Catalog (March 2008), we find that a previous project received an ID credit for "building elevators with innovative technology that does not use hydraulic fluid, eliminating the need for a machine room and reducing the energy required [including demonstrating] the associated reduction of energy use." Our project is a large destination resort which includes 18 service and passenger elevators: 14 high-rise and 4 low-rise. Compared to conventional traction (high-rise) and hydraulic (low-rise) elevators typically specified for this type of project (based on a recent similar-scale resort project located near our project), the elevators for the project will have these benefits: Annual process energy cost will be reduced by 65% compared to that of conventional elevators: $8,400/yr vs $23,900/yr. The coated steel belts used in the proposed fourteen high-rise elevators have a lifespan twice that of conventional hoist-rope assemblies. This means that, for the fourteen high-rise elevators, the owner will need to replace 12,600 feet of steel belts half as often as for conventional elevators. The proposed fourteen high-rise elevators do not require lubrication because they do not have hoist ropes and machine rooms. This will eliminate, for each elevator, 1 gallon of petroleum-based and 3 -4 gallons of synthetic-base oil each year. Compared to the conventional approach of four low-rise hydraulic elevators, the proposed four traction elevators will use no hydraulic fluid, for a savings of 320 gallons. Elevator hydraulic fluid is typically a hydrocarbon. From BuildingGreen.com: "Leaking hydraulic oil, like all spilled oil, poses environmental risks in the form of soil and water contamination. Cleanup of hydraulic-oil-contaminated soils is a difficult and costly task.." All these elevators do not require a machine room. If we were including conventional elevators in our project, these machine rooms would total 3,200 sf. This additional space would require additional construction, including structural steel and framing, concrete, exterior and interior finishes, roofing, and electrical systems, for an added project cost of $1,120,000. Will this combination of benefits be sufficient for achievement of an ID credit?
The project team is requesting that an Innovation in Design credit for savings associated with using non-traditional elevators thereby reducing the annual energy cost, removing the use of hydraulic fluid, reducing the maintenance required for the steel belts, and eliminating the capital cost of installing elevator machine rooms. Some of the benefits proposed are already accounted for in other credits, and therefore not eligible to also contribute towards an innovation point. The cost savings associated with the elevator should be accounted for in an exemplary calculation as part of Energy and Atmosphere credit 1. Also, the capital cost reduction associated with removing elevator machine rooms is not typically used as support for an ID credit, which is awarded for a strategy that provides a significant and quantifiable environmental benefit. The proposed reduction of the decreased need to replace the steel belts and reduction of the hydraulic oils may be worthy of an innovation point, however further information will be needed for certification. For certification, please provide the calculations for the baseline of the use of steel belts and the hydraulic oils, as well as the reductions that can be seen from the proposed strategy. Additionally, please provide quantifiable information on the environmental benefits of the proposed strategy such as the associated carbon emissions reduction, or specific information on soil and water contamination reduction from the proposed strategy. Also, please include cutsheets for the proposed elevators. Applicable Internationally.